RESUMO
Objetivo Con el propósito de determinar en Nivel de Conocimiento (NC) que sobre el VIH/SIDA tienen los adolescentes, se realizó una investigación descriptiva transversal. Métodos La población estuvo constituida por 329 estudiantes de los 4tos y 5tos años de dos unidades educativas públicas del municipio Jiménez. La muestra no probabilística la conformaron 208 estudiantes disponibles durante los días pautados para la visita a las instituciones educativas, a quienes se les aplicó un cuestionario con preguntas sobre el VIH/SIDA, prevención y modo de transmisión. Resultados La edad promedio de los participantes fue 15,90 ± 1,24 años de edad y 57,2 por ciento eran del género femenino. El 40,9 por ciento reportó un NC "bueno", 51,9 por ciento "regular" y 7,2 por ciento "deficiente". El NC relacionado a las medidas de prevención muestra que 78,8 por ciento conoce dichas medidas. Un 95,7 por ciento respondió correctamente que el "VIH/SIDA se puede contraer al mantener relaciones sexuales sin protección", 41,8 por ciento respondió incorrectamente que "no hay forma de protegerse contra el VIH". Conclusiones En general los estudiantes presentan un NC "regular", lo que hace necesario la implementación de estrategias educativas para mejorar el conocimiento acerca de la enfermedad, sus consecuencias y formas de prevención con la finalidad de proteger a este grupo de riesgo.
Objective Determining adolescents' level of knowledge (LK) about HIV/AIDS using descriptive investigation. Methods The population was represented by 329 students from the 4th and 5th grades from two public high-schools. A non-probabilistic sample was formed by 208 available students from the high schools and to whom a questionnaire concerning HIV/AIDS, prevention and transmission mode was applied. Results The participants' mean age was 15,9 ± 1,24; 57,2 percent were female. 24,5 percent reported a "good" LK, 67,3 percent "fair" LK and 8,2 percent "deficient" LK. LK concerning preventative measures showed that 25,5 percent knew them. 95,7 percent answered correctly that, "HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by unprotected sexual relations," and 41,8 percent answered incorrectly that, "There is no way of protecting against HIV." Conclusions The students generally had fair LK. Educational strategies must be implemented to improve knowledge about the disease, its consequences and preventative measures for protecting this group at risk.
Assuntos
Adolescente , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/epidemiologia , Atitude Frente a Saúde , Conscientização , Cognição , Infecções por HIV/epidemiologia , Educação em SaúdeRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: Determining adolescents' level of knowledge (LK) about HIV/AIDS using descriptive investigation. METHODS: The population was represented by 329 students from the 4th and 5th grades from two public high-schools. A non-probabilistic sample was formed by 208 available students from the high schools and to whom a questionnaire concerning HIV/AIDS, prevention and transmission mode was applied. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 15.9 +/- 1.24; 57.2 % were female. 24.5 % reported a 'good' LK, 67.3 % 'fair' LK and 8.2 % 'deficient' LK. LK concerning preventative measures showed that 25.5 % knew them. 95.7 % answered correctly that, 'HIV/AIDS can be transmitted by unprotected sexual relations,' and 41.8 % answered incorrectly that, 'There is no way of protecting against HIV.' CONCLUSIONS: The students generally had fair LK. Educational strategies must be implemented to improve knowledge about the disease, its consequences and preventative measures for protecting this group at risk.
